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Written by Brian Friedrich, a contemporary pastor and President of Concordia University.

That was different! Of burials I’ve attended, hurrying quickly away has not been the case. Lingering, longing, and lasting are the usual descriptors—one more tear, one more rose petal dropped, one more mourner’s hug, one more memory. One more. Even when the funeral directors announce it’s “time to leave and go to the luncheon,” some stay. But not so on the first Easter morning. When the angel announces to the women gathering at the grave site: “He is not here,” the faithful, believing women run, they hurry, they race! They have Good News! The Dead One is raised. Fear is gone. Hope is here. The resurrection is real. The time to tell is now. The victory to celebrate has dawned. Jesus is alive! The abundant joy of resurrection realized cannot be contained! The words “He is Risen” echo through time and eternity so that the first disciples would, and all people everywhere will know that death is done, sin is conquered, and the grave cannot hold us. Forever and for always resurrection power is ours because Jesus lives and He always will! Today, do as the women did on Easter morning: run; rejoice; retell. Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

The women ran quickly from the tomb!  [Matthew 28:1-10]

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Written by Divinah Nyabera, a contemporary writer.  

After his fall from the Garden of Eden, man was condemned to death. God, in His fullness of love and mercy, set out a plan to save, redeem, and exalt the fallen humankind…Jesus left the glory of heaven to die so that man could be saved.  Jesus preached the gospel to the poor, healed the brokenhearted, set the captives free, and caused the blind to see and the lame to walk. Love, mercy, and compassion were His way of life. He became a man that He might reach man’s needs. Jesus on His earthly journey always spoke the truth, but in love. He was never rude, nor did He utter a severe word to a sensitive soul… It was in His mission to save humankind that Jesus lived, suffered, and died. God permitted His beloved son to come down from the Heavenly glory to a sinful world darkened with the shadow of death. The son of God took upon Himself the burden of sin. He felt a separation from His father in heaven. The burden of sin broke the heart of the son of God. God made this great sacrifice because of the great love for man. His begotten son was the medium through which He could pour His infinite love for fallen humankind … The agony of Gethsemane, the death on Calvary, the heart of infinite love, paid the price of salvation…What matchless love!

For God loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life [ John 3:16]

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Written by Celeste Bailey, from the Village Church.

Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Israel with SAT-7. It was a lifetime experience that brought a renewed spiritual awakening in me. To visit actual places where many Biblical events took place brought a new meaning of Scripture – it became alive! One of the highlights of the trip was walking through Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which

represents the path that Jesus took to His crucifixion. Via Dolorosa means ‘sorrowful way’ in Latin or ‘way of suffering’. What struck me the most was the stone handprint at Station Five of the Via Dolorosa (photo above). Jesus may have stumbled and reached out His hand on the wall for support as He was carrying the heavy cross to a point that Simon of Cyrene had to help him. As it is written in Luke 23:26 “As they led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” As I placed my hand on the stone handprint, I was overwhelmed by grief for what Jesus had to endure because of His unconditional love for me and the world. My grief was followed by a quick prayer thanking Him for His sacrifice. As I recall that experience, I am reminded of Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Jesus denied Himself for my sake. Am I ready to deny myself and share the burden of the cross for Him?

Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the skull [John 19:17]

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Written by Victoria Riollano, a contemporary ministry leader and author.

One way to show Godly love is to pray for one another. Often, in the world of social media Christians may use the words “praying for you” out of habit. After doing so, many walk away from the screen and never pray or really think of the need brought forth. Yet, Christ prayed for His disciples (John 17:6-26). He also taught His disciples how to pray for one another and how to see God’s miracles take place. Prayer was not just a good idea, but we see Jesus praying for people throughout His ministry on earth. When we pray for others (intercession), we come into agreement for their healing, peace, and comfort. Is there any greater love than to seek the Father on someone else’s behalf? Again, this act of love is another opportunity to care about another person’s needs, even above our own. 

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. [James 5:16]

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Written by Davis Wetherell, a contemporary writer and editor.

The Ninevites were some of the worst people. Jonah was either so afraid of them or thought they were so hopelessly lost that when God called him to go there, he went the other way. But Jonah did go and proclaim God’s Word to them, he proclaimed God’s offer of repentance to them. They responded in faith, and God withheld their due judgment. Remember the Ninevites’ story next time someone describes God as one who lacks mercy in the Old Testament. The Ninevites so deserved their punishment that Jonah himself—a prophet of God, having seen many conversions—still believed God would condemn them after they repented. Jonah’s lack of mercy in his story contrasts the overwhelming mercy and love God has for humanity.  

“Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. [Jonah 3:8-10]

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Written by Ken Gire, a contemporary author

Help me Jesus to look at you through the eyes of that thief on the cross. Grant me the grace, I pray, to see in your eyes the forgiveness that he saw. Grant me the grace to live such a life that when you do remember me in your kingdom, O Lord, you may remember me with a smile, and look forward to the day when I too, will be with you in paradise. Amen.

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23:42-43]

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Written by Vickie Stone, from the Village Church

One of my most cherished books is called “Intimate Moments with the Savior; Learning to Love“, by Ken Gire. The copyright is 1989 and I had it for years before, like many of my books, I finally read it. Once I did, however, it is a book I go to time and again. During Lenten season one of the stories in this book especially sticks with me:  “An Intimate Moment with a Thief on the Cross”. Jesus is suffering on the cross; on both sides of him hang a thief, teetering between life and death. At last one reaches out in faith, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Not much is known about the criminal on the cross next to Christ. We know from Matthew’s scripture that this thief joined with the crowds in mocking Jesus. Yet his plea to Jesus before he dies is the last kind word Jesus hears.   Jesus responds to the thief “Today you will be with me in Paradise”. He receives the blessed assurance of the Savior. This thief had mocked Jesus to come down from the cross and save himself and taunted Jesus for His claims to be the Son of God.  What did the thief see Jesus do, that made him reconsider who Jesus was? Even as Jesus is taking spears in his side, this thief hears Jesus appeal for mercy for His persecutors, His tormentors.   As he feels himself fading, the thief meets the eyes of the Savior, and for a moment, all time stands still. And in those eyes, he sees no hatred, no scorn, no judgment. He sees only one thing – forgiveness.

Then he knows. He is face to face with a dying God.

As the author writes: “Incredible, when you think of it. Amidst the humiliating abuse of the crowd and excruciating pain of the cross, Jesus was still about his Father’s business. Even with his eyes sinking on the feverish horizon of death, he was telling a common thief about the uncommon riches of heaven.”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [Luke 23:39]

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Written by Gregory of Narek (950-1003), an Armenian poet, monk, and theologian.

You found me, a sinner, lost in darkness crying like the psalmist in prayer,

       and because of Your willing care You were called Shepherd,

for not only did You care but You sought,

       not only did You find, O worker of miracles

but with the goodness of Your love,

       A love that defies description,

You rescued me, lifting me upon Your shoulder,

       To set me down alongside Your heavenly army,

the heirs to Your fatherly legacy.

He [The LORD] brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. [2 Samuel 22:20]

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Written by Victoria Riollano, a contemporary ministry leader and author.

Honesty is a quality that goes a long way. Making a choice to tell the truth when it’s difficult is an act of love. Yet, one must balance truth with grace. Telling the truth without grace is rude and causes us to make harsh statements. However, giving grace and never sharing the truth is enabling. We have a duty as Christians to share the truth even when it’s not comfortable or acceptable by the world’s standards. In doing so, we must realize that it’s not just what we share but how we share it. In general, airing our feelings on public forums, in a way that may embarrass, or in a demeaning way, will always be met with contempt. One-on-one conversations and not avoiding answering questions of faith or ethics (when asked) can help us to communicate truth in a way that will be respected and heard. Let us remain prayerful and students of the Word so that we can be ready when the time comes to share His truth.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. [2 Timothy 2:15]

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Written by Catherine Montgrain, from the Village Church.

When I moved from Canada to the USA (moving to a small town in Indiana and not California quite yet) , I was what I could call doubly culture shocked. Shock from learning a new bilingual culture in Quebec from my native UK , to shock from moving from that multicultural experience to a small mid-western town where many people had never traveled out of their country or even their state. I asked God to guide me on this journey and he showed me how life plays out when we let ourselves be guided. How does this happen? By engaging with the people we meet in each new place. After joining churches, school activities with our four children who were also in culture shock from Canada , we were humbled and grateful for how caring the people were in the USA. I joined charities to provide shoes to schoolchildren whose parents struggled to buy them, worked in a free Catholic-run  clinic to give medical help to people without insurance,  and joined many school fundraisers of all kinds with our children. I was so impressed with how selfless and hard-working all these kind Americans were. They would work so hard and literally tire themselves out helping people. I will never forget the example these lovely people from all walks of life gave me. Commitment, dedication, love, and mainly faith. I soon forgot my homesickness and started trying to emulate them . I still haven’t managed to but God is helping me.  

But give as alms those things that are within and behold, everything is clean for you [Luke 11:41]

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